Danielle Hunter looks set to stay in purple past Tuesday afternoon’s trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Source: ‘Almost no chance’ Vikings move Danielle Hunter at deadline,” Fowler tweeted Tuesday, just hours before the 3 p.m. CT deadline.
Hunter is playing out the final year of his deal with Minnesota after the two sides were unable to agree to an extension in the offseason. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert followed up Fowler’s report saying the Vikings are unable to use “their franchise tag on Danielle Hunter this spring, so he has a clear path to the highest bidder in the 2024 free agent market.”
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported Sunday that the Vikings won’t move Hunter “unless and until they get an offer they absolutely can’t refuse.” According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Vikings would need a pick in the top 60 to get a conversation started about Hunter.
In light of the Montez Sweat trade, my understanding is it'd take a pick in the Top 60 or so to move any trade conversation forward on Vikings DE Danielle Hunter. Hunter's in a contract year, and can't be tagged.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 31, 2023
Through eight weeks, Hunter leads the NFL in sacks with 10 while generating 34 pressures.
Minnesota’s defense has been resurgent over the past several weeks, allowing just 14.2 points per game since starting 0-3. The Vikings defense has allowed an average of 287 yards per game in that span as the team won three of their last four to get to 4-4 on the season.
